NewStats: 3,265,489 , 8,186,922 topics. Date: Sunday, 15 June 2025 at 09:34 AM 4c26k

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of National Political Parties (CNPP) , Osita Okechukwu, described Jonathan’s appointment of Chief Anthony Anenih as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) as an insult to Nigerians and utter endorsement of corruption.He warned President Goodluck Jonathan that a true Transformation Agenda must be anchored on the beacon of transparency, ability and public good rather than on self–preservation and endorsement of corruption.

“The NPA from the days of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to Bode George has been infested with endemic corruption and recently the House of Representatives accused the NPA of diverting N160 billion of revenue supposed to be remitted to the Federation , in accordance with Section 162 of the Constitution.

“For the endemic corruption in NPA, we are alarmed that President Jonathan instead of nominating a credible, transparent and maritime professional to clean the Augean Stable in the rotten Nigeria Port Authority; has wittingly insulted the intelligence of Nigerians by appointing Chief Anenih whose notoriety in public office is legendary.”

CNPP said it was yet to locate any of the federal roads awarded for billions by Chief Anenih as Minister of Works from 1999 which was completed in the more than three years he held sway in the ministry.

“In fact, Agege-Ota-Abeokuta, Owerri-Onitsha, Ilorin-Ibadan, Gombe-Maiduguri, Kano-Maiduguri, Lagos-Ibadan, Lagos-Benin etc, are still uncompleted, despite the unprecedented oil revenue which governed the budget process, an unfortunate foundation laid by the Chief,” CNPP pointed out.

It expressed disappointment that President Jonathan is failing to make strenuous efforts to erase the epitaph of graduating into the most corrupt regime in the annals of Nigerian history by distancing himself from less than transparent characters like Chief Anenih.



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“Corruption has become a state of the Federation, drawing its weekly and monthly allowances from the Federation unabashedly” – Lagos lawyer and activist, Fred Agbaje

Lately, the Nigerian media has been awash with opinion, analysis and editorials on the spiralling rate of corruption especially under the President Goodluck Jonathan led istration. The war against graft is now an issue of national interest in public discourse in the light of Nigeria’s consistent top rating in global corruption index and its eroded image in the comity of nations. More damning is the lethargic approach the President Jonathan istration has adopted in fighting corruption. As most Nigerians would readily agree that if the menace of corruption is reduced by 50% then more than half of Nigeria’s problems becomes effectively solved.

The long term iron-clad impunity of Nigerians political elite has escalated in recent time under the nose of President Jonathan’s istration resulting in the disappearance of a whopping N5trillion in just two years as revealed by Punch investigation. The gargantuan sleaze over the years has left an estimated 11, 886 federal government projects abandoned across the country according to Professor Kole Omotoso. No surprise, the Gallup Poll and KPMG Report ranked Nigeria the second most corrupt country in the world and most corrupt in Africa respectively. Another study by the Economist Intelligence Unit, says Nigeria is the worst place for a baby born in 2013 but just days earlier Mr Jonathan braved up in a media chart on National TV… “I can assure Nigerians and the global community that this government is fighting corruption frontally, we have dealt with political corruption, the corruption in fertiliser procurement and corruption in the oil industry. There has never been a time corruption in the oil industry has been attacked in all fronts. The effort this government has put in fighting corruption, I don’t think any other person has done that”. Going forward, he gave an insight to how he intends to fight Corruption using the staggered elections in Edo and Ondo as a template.

These and many more scams unraveled on a daily basis across all sectors of the economy , indicate that special attention at the ongoing constitution review process need be given not only to the removal of immunity clause and severe (if not capital) punishment for corrupt leaders, but appropriate laws to strengthen the relevant anti-corruption agencies so as to fast-track prosecution of cases.

The fuss by the anti-graft agencies about their efforts in the anti-corruption war have so far failed to translate prosecution of indicted individuals to conviction for any of the ex-Governors accused of enriching themselves through corrupt means save for James Ibori, former Delta State Governor, who was only sentenced with the help of a British court and Olabode George. A situation where Dr. Peter Odili secured a court injunction to shield himself from prosecution makes one wonder if such corrupt persons still enjoy some form of immunity even after leaving office. They employ the services of lawyers skilled in delaying court processes with unnecessary adjournments. Such injunctions have turned the Nigerian judiciary to a laughing stock. A slap on the wrist treatment of high profile offenders have inspire would-be-looters and emboldened those neck deep in the act.
Nigerians clamour for scrapping or merger of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (IC) as a way of strengthening the commission in the anti-graft war, should have a rethink as such move will not only hamper the fight but exacerbate the present endemic corruption. I am not an advocate of multi-agency approach in tackling the gargantuan graft in various sectors but if this argument is to be won on such numbers, then Nigeria is behind when compared with other countries around the world. For instance, China has 3, 563 agencies fighting its corruption and related offences, the Philippines with 94 million people has 18 anti-graft agencies, Argentina with 40 million population has three anti-graft bodies and Australia has four anti-graft agencies. In Africa, Ghana with just 24 million people has three, South Africa with 49 million has four and several countries around the world with more than two agencies waging war against corruption.

To the government of the day, of paramount importance should be the harmonization of the workings of the anti-graft agencies so as to avoid duplicity of functions and to eliminate waste of public funds considering it now cost as much as N9.32billion, from its 2013 budget, to run the EFCC in a year without any guaranty of convicting a single accused person.

The Western countries today are more advanced and developed not because of the absence of corrupt persons but by means of effective anti-graft agencies which are empowered with the right constitutional framework, making them strong enough to ensure whoever, be it a common criminal or looter of public funds, is prosecuted and convicted, thereby serving as a deterrent to others.

The bogey of Boko Haram, unemployment, rising crime rate, poverty are all concomitant effect of sleaze. The attack of the Police SARS headquarters in Abuja by a new Islamic sect is a testament that no part of the country is safe and no one, leaders, looters or political office holder will be spared if the country is left to continue in its steep downward trajectory.

To give a boost to the anti-graft crusade, grey areas in the law establishing them need to be revisited. A look at the Plea bargain for instance, former Governors of Edo and Bayelsa states Lucky Igbinedion and Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha were accused of gargantuan corruption, after plea-bargains with the EFCC, the former saw 191 charges against him reduced to just one upon conviction and thereafter asked to pay a paltry N3.5m while the latter was sentenced to only two years imprisonment. Offences that would have at least guaranteed life behind bars after forfeiture of all assets and ill-gotten wealth to the state. Such is tantamount to a slap on the wrist which will only inspire other looters. Unnecessary adjournment of cases and congestion of the regular courts have lead to calls for special courts to try corruption offenders.

To fight corruption, President Jonathan must first give priority to political corruption by powerful politicians and their immediate cronies. He must throw his weight behind the leadership of the anti-corruption agencies in their quest to go after corrupt persons and prove to Nigerians beyond doubt by his actions that he is not in tacit of corrupt practices oozing from close quarters around him. He must ensure that laws that would engender speedy prosecution and conviction of corrupt persons are reviewed by the National Assembly. President Jonathan has got enough time in his istration to combat Nigeria’s monumental corruption and to see that it cease to exist in aphorism as the 37th state of the federation.


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A former pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Bankole Solomon, has condemned what he described as the politicization of the church’s annual Holy Ghost congress.

Pastor Bankole, a lawyer and the Ogun State Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), expressed the position on Facebook.

Speaking later to SaharaReporters by telephone, he said his position was aimed at President Goodluck Jonathan’s appearance at the congress as a tool for political manipulation of of the popular church, and Christians at large, but was not an attack on the church and its leadership.

He described Holy Ghost congress as having become “a supermarket where all kinds of people like charlatans and political opportunists come shopping turning God to Father Xmas to give them end-of-year bonus.”

Mr. Solomon said he was very unhappy at the rate at which his famed church voluntarily surrenders its sacred podium to corrupt politicians when pastors working hard in the church are being denied the same access to the podium.

President Goodluck Jonathan, he said, was there “turning our once sacred altar to political podium talking deceitfully & indirectly campaigning for 2015.”
He questioned the basis for that decision, given that Mr. Jonathan is not a pastor.

The lawyer, who said he resigned from the ministry of the RCCG in 2010 for personal reasons, predicted in his post that of the church would harass and harangue him for coming out clearly to condemn the way the church has been turned to a den of thieves.

SaharaReporters can confirm that that is already happening. Mr. Bankole has been receiving threats, cursing and harassment from across the world. Bankole however says he stands by his earlier position, but expressed surprise at the attacks.

Below is Pastor Bankole’s posting about the issue yesterday on his Facebook Wall:
I know this post will attract a sharp condemnation because I worship in RCCG & I was once a pastor before I resign0ed voluntarily because of rights violations in the name of religion.

I resigned in December 2010.

But am still worshipping in there as an ordinary member.

So, whatever. I have here is without prejudice.

Holy ghost congress of our great church is now a political congress where all shades of corrupt leaders will mount our altar to fool Nigerians on what they will do.

Holy Ghost congress is now a supermarket where all kinds of people like charlatans & political opportunist come shopping turning God to father xmas to give dem end of d year bonus.

Jonathan was even there turning our once sacred altar to political podium talking deceitfully & indirectly campaigning for 2015.

My question is this? On what ground was president Jonathan allowed to speak to people. Is he a pastor? Because d gathering is purely spiritual gathering & event. I’ve been a pastor in Redeemed for d past 10 years & I’ve not got any opportunity to sit on that altar not to talk of holding microphone. If because Jonathan is a president & he is recognized, it means some are more equal than others.

Immediately, I left camp on Saturday morning, I looked at the camp very well because I know that would be d last time I will set my foot to that Eagle square called Redeemed camp.

Follow me on twitter @tilevbare. I blog on www.ilevbare.com

The crash of a naval helicopter yesterday in which six persons, including the Governor of Kaduna State Patrick Yakowa and former National Security Adviser General Andrew Owoye Azazi, were killed when the helicopter they were travelling burst into flames in the forest of Okoroba, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, shortly after take-off necessitated the sharing of this article i actually wrote a few months back after the crash of Taraba state Governor Dambaba Suntai’s Private Jet. This latest crash is surely one too many.







The recent crash of Governor Dambaba Suntai’s Private Jet and yesterday’s naval helicopter crash in which six persons, among the dead are the Governor of Kaduna State Patrick Yakowa and former National Security Adviser General Andrew Owoye Azazi, ensured that Nigeria maintained its high ranking in global air crashes in the last two decades in consonant with African Airlines Associated indices which placed Nigeria top among 10 African countries with high air accidents.

Carnage by flying coffins has claimed thousands of lives, including eminent Nigerians, promising children and officers of the Nigerian Army. Ten Generals lost their lives in a monumental crash in September 2006. Even in war front no country loses ten Generals!

Unknown to many, the litany of air mishap in the country dates back to four years before Nigeria’s independence and not 1969 as widely documented.

Today, the news of Air crash is hackneyed. Multiple crashes in a single year, now considered far from heartbreaking.

From November 1969, when a Government owned DC-10 aircraft on a flight from London crash-landed in Lagos, its been a flurry, particularly in the last 20years, averaging one crash every other year.

Between November 1969 and October 2006, at least 1000 persons have been killed in plane crashes involving Nigeria, Nigerians or Nigerian-operated aircrafts.

With the perpetual deplorable state of Nigerian roads, official statistics released by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) recorded more than 9, 395 deaths in about 29,000 road accidents across Nigeria between 2010 and 2011 and more than 35, 559 injured in these accidents during thesame period. To those who could afford Air travel, a safer, reliable and faster alternative it was meant to be, but the statistics below has proven otherwise…



* June 24, 1956: A British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) four-engined Canadair C-4 Argonaut airliner ed G-ALHE crashed into a tree on departure from Kano Airport in Nigeria, 3 crew and 29 engers were killed

* November 20, 1969: A government owned DC-10 aircraft on a flight from London crash landed and killed all 87 engers and crew on board in Lagos

* 1973, A Boeing 707 crashed in Kano. 171 Nigerian Muslims returning from Mecca and 5 crewmen died in crash.

* March 1978: A Nigeria Airways plane crashed in Kano, 16 people died.

* December 3, 1988, Nigeria Airways Forker-28 crashed in Enugu, killing 103 engers.

* December 1988: Skypower Brandeironte aircraft overshot Ilorin Airport runway leaving all engers dead.

* February 24, 1991: British Helicopter crashed in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, killing all nine people on board.

* May 21, 1991: A Cessna Citation 550 of Ashaka Cement, crashed, killing all on board.

* June 26, 1991: An Okada Air Bac-11 crashed in Sokoto, three people died.

* July 11, 1991: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Canadian chartered DC-8 carrying pilgrims returning to Nigeria crashed after take-off, killing 261 people.

* September 26, 1992: Nigerian Air Force A C-130 plane crashed minutes after take-off from Lagos. All 200 on board killed.

* Ibrahim Abacha, son of Sani Abacha, was killed in a plane crash on January 17, 1996. The group “United Front for Nigeria’s Liberation” (UFNL) claimed responsibility for the crash.

* November 1996, ADC Plane at Ejirin, near Epe, controlled by Captain Sama, Plunged into lagoon. The aircraft touched down about halfway down the runway and eventually skidded off the runway off to one side. The aircraft was subsequently destroyed by fire. Nine of the 129 engers were killed.

* September 12, 1997: A NAF Dornier 228 in Bornu State ran into a ditch during take off, none of the 10 people died.

* October 26, 2000: Dornier aircraft plunged into a thick bush near the Niger Delta, 6 occupants injured.

* May 4, 2002: EAS Airline BAC 1-11 bound for Lagos plunged into a poor, densely populated suburb of Kano shortly after takeoff, killing 148. Dead included all 76 aboard and dozens on the ground.

* March 20, 2003: An ADC Boeing 737 from Calabar Airport skidded off the runway. 100 people on board escaped death.

* November 30, 2003: A Cargo aircraft of Hydro Cargo, Brussels, Belgium, crash landed.

* March 6, 2004: An Aenail spray aircraft with registration number 5NBEF belonging to Berfieex Nigeria Ltd, crashed at the Bauchi Airport.

* July 26, 2004: Pan African Airlines’ helicopter crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in Delta State, 4 people on board died.

* December 29, 2004: A Boeing 727 of Chanchangi Airlines belly-landed at the MMA

* December 29, 2004: A Kenya Airlines aircraft crashed – landed at the MMA due to gear fault.

* December 29, 2004: A Kenya Airlines aircraft crashed – landed at the MMA due to gear fault.

.* January 28, 2005: A Nigeria Air Force fighter plane crashed into a farmland in Yar Kanya, Kano State.

* February 25, 2005: ADC’s B73 aircraft had its tyre burnt while landing at Yola airport.

* March 27, 2005: A Boeing 737 of Bellview, one of its engines caught fire.

* June 12, 2005, Lagos: A Boeing 727-200 aircraft belonging to the domestic Chachangi Airlines overshot the runway at Murtala Muhammed Airport, while another overshot the runway at the airport in Jos in central Nigeria a day earlier (June 11, 2005).

* June 24, 2005: A Russian aircraft belonging to Harka Air crash – landed at the MMA, all the people on board died.

* July 6, 2005, Port Harcourt: An Air A330 plane crashed into a herd of cattle at Port Harcourt airport sustaining serious damage and killing many of the cows. The airport had no perimeter fence and herdsmen usually take their cattle across the tarmac and sometimes abandon them there.

* July 13, 2005, Lagos: A Ugandan-ed cargo aircraft, belonging to Almiron Aviation, overshot the runway at Murtala Muhammed airport. There were no casualties.

* On July 23, 2005, a Lufthansa aircraft crash – landed at Lagos airport and was badly damaged, but no life was lost.

* October 22, 2005: A Bellview airline Boeing 737 carrying 117 people on board crashes soon after take-off from the Nigerian city of Lagos, killing everyone on board.

* December 10, 2005: A Sosoliso Airlines DC-9 crashes in the southern Nigerian city of Port Harcourt, killing 103 people on board including 75 school children.

* September 17, 2006: Air Force Dornier 228-212 aircraft (with 18 people on board) crashed into the hills of Ushongo village in Benue State, 18 nautical miles from its destination, Obudu in Cross River State; 18 people (including 10 army generals and 4 colonels) died.

* October 29, 2006: Ninety-six of the engers who boarded the ADC flight from Abuja destined for the north-western city of Sokoto, died including the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslim, the Sultan of Sokoto.

* November 10, 2006: OAS Service Helicopter crashed in Warri, Delta state killing 4 on board.

* August 2, 2007: Bristow-owned helicopter crashed inside ExxonMobil facility in Port Harcout.

* March 15, 2008: Beechcraft 1900D plane marked 5N-JAH, belonging to Wing Aviation crashed in the mountainous forest of Busi in Cross River State on its way to Obudu airstrip. The wreakage was not found until 6 months after the disappearance of the aircraft. All 4 man crew on board died.

* March 8, 2011: HS-125 chartered aircraft crashed in Bauchi. No casualty.

* July 29, 2011: A Kwara State-bound helicopter crashed in Osun State killing all on board.

* June 3, 2012 – A Dana Air enger plane carrying 147 people crashed in the Agege suburb of Lagos. killing all 153 engers and crew on board. Several others also died as the ill-fated Dana Airline Flight 992 plane destroyed some buildings in the area, killing about 12 residents and injuring many.

The Dana air mishap is still the world’s worst air crash in 2012, Nigeria’s worst air crash since the 1992 air disaster that claimed 200 lives.

And most recently…

* October 25, 2012: Taraba State Governor Dambaba Suntai’s self piloted Cessna-208 private Jet crashed few metres to the Yola International Airport in Adamawa State.



To underscore the importance of air travel, Gov Suntai of Taraba State crashed his private jet, lucky to be alive with injury, was flown in another to for ‘proper’ medical attention, yet over the years our leaders have neglected this sector.

Political appointments have taken the place of technocrats made evident in the announcement by Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah of Dana Air as the best airline in 2012 after its crash of June 3 this year. Such award leaves much to be desired.

Typical of Nigerian Government tactics of circumventing a problem, they’ve found a new hobby in private jet acquisition, the latest being the $45m bombardier private jet by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi amid the flood disaster in the state.

The Presidency is not left out as The Federal Executive Council had on August 12, 2010 approved $102m for the purchase of two Falcon 7X and $53.3m for one Gulfstream G550 aircraft to beef up the presidential fleet.


Of Airplanes, flying coffins and cursed air skies – Woes Of A Failing Aviation Sector By Theophilus Ilevbare


As Gov Dambaba Suntai’s crash has shown, private jet(s) acquisition do not guaranty air safety. Government should rather channel such funds at fighting corruption, appointing technocrats, infrastructure maintenance/upgrade and tackle other critical issues bedevilling the Aviation Ministry over the years.



Follow the writer on twitter @tilevbare. He blogs on www.ilevbare.com

Once again, President Jonathan did not disappoint as he amazed Nigerians with his relentless comic fight against corruption, leaving no modicum of doubt that he is nowhere close to tackling the ‘cancer’. His bizarre decisions and actions accentuating his lacklustre combat against graft to new horizons.

This time around, it was the appointment of Chief Tony Anenih, chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as the new chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), one of the most lucrative agency outside the oil and gas industry and one that has served as an agency of choice for PDP leaders since 1999.

The ineptitude and cluelessness of the PDP and Jonathan led istration came to the fore as the septuagenarian returned to the honey pot he occupied for few years without any impact. In awe Nigerians were made to wonder if there is anything he left behind at the nation’s doorway of commerce and industry that he intends to pick up. Or How else can we describe this open show of PDPs shamelessness considering that a former NPA chairman and PDP deputy national leader, Chief Olabode George, not long ago completed his jail term in connection with funds he stole while at the helm of the NPA board. This was the height of comic mesmerism capable of making even lucifer laugh himself to a jerk. Of recent Nigerian memory is the fact that Chief Tony Anenih once served as the Minister of Works of which he misappropriated funds to the tune of N300 billion meant for road construction and reconstruction. Mr Jonathan has raised the ante to appoint him as the new NPA Boss as part of his Machiavellian tactics towards self succession in 2015. Obliviously, Jonathan failed to realise that Anenih has since lost the sobriquet of ‘Mr fix it’, his political prowess is dwindling and deeming as we can recall that not too long ago Pa Anenih, as the ageing politician should now be addressed, served as the godfather of the trounced PDP candidates in the Anambra and Edo States gubernatorial polls, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo and Maj. General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) .

From the inception of the fourth republic in 1999, PDP has been known for its penchant for celebrating failures, hence, the emergence of Tony Anenih as Nigeria's minister of works during Obasanjo’s tenure came as no surprise. Till today, the Nation’s highways, like the Lagos-Ibadan , East-West and Benin-Ore roads remain death traps. He left the roads worse than he met them. To him, pillaging state funds meant for road construction became his full time calling. So much was his fleece that till today a good number of the roads have remained in deplorable condition.

In the PDP, their cunning ability to recycle mediocrity has seen Pa Anenih metamorphose from Board of Trustees chairman to minister of the federal republic, then NPA chairman in 2009 and now chairman of the NPA again in 2012. His 2009 role as the Chairman of the NPA was an indirect appointment as Late President Yar’Adua’s second term ‘campaign manager’. The same strategy is the record Jonathan seem to be playing.
Anenih’s indictment during his time at the Ministry of Works without prosecution and conviction reinforces the public belief that some individuals are above the law. To succinctly put, “the anti-corruption law and war in Nigeria is like a cobweb. It is strong to catch the weak but very weak to catch the strong”. This action validates the school of thought that the prosecution of Bode George was a smokescreen, he was only a victim of high level political scheming.

The man that has been deployed to the prime government agency to superintend the activities of the NPA, should that it is the same post that landed Chief Bode George in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison. Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole buttressed this point during his heated face-off with Anenih prior to the July gubernatorial election in Edo state, stating that it was ominous that the last bus stop on the highway to Kirikiri Prison is the NPA chairmanship!
Severally, Mr Jonathan, has demonstrated his willingness to condescend to this base level to ridicule his istration already bedeviled with sleaze, profligacy, impunity and other concomitant effects of corruption.

A leeway to self-succession in 2015 must have necessitated the NPA appointment. The PDP must also be playing out a script to wriggle itself out of the Board of Trustees (BoT) chairmanship tussle. Pa Anenih's juicy post as NPA Boss, will help to divest his interest in the BoT race, giving room for the emergence of former President Obasanjo’s anointed candidate. This arrangement is the grand political game plan of the Jonathan istration towards the 2015 elections. Anenih as the Boss of the NPA would ensure he embezzles enough cash and be in high spirit of 'fixation' when the 2015 elections comes around.

The recycling of the old brigade of PDP politicians that have milked the country dry over the years, by the Jonathan government and the PDP at such a time in Nigeria’s history, is another indication that Mr Jonathan lacks the will power to bring Nigeria out of the wood. Mr Jonathan should be aware that Nigerians have given up on any hope of restoration let alone transformation from his istration. He has shown to Nigerians in different shades that is it business as usual with his PDP cahoots. For a man who ran a campaign with a subterfuge that he walked without shoes as a boy, promising zero tolerance for corruption, 'fresh air' and El dorado to turn his back on Nigerians barely two years into his tenure is not fit to be considered for a second term.

Jonathan’s tenure will readily go into Nigeria's history books at the end of his four years as one of Nigeria’s most corrupt istration if the plethora of reports, investigation and other indices available is a yardstick. Well meaning Nigerians would rather wish 2015 can fast-forward to save us from this leadership plunge.
President Jonathan has shown from this despicable appointment of Tony Anenih as NPA Chairman that his is in Aso Rock to perpetuate sleaze, entrench impunity and sustain the legacy of waste bequeathed to him by his predecessors. It is a cinch that corruption has come to stay in his istration.

As 2015 beckons, Nigerians must be vigilant and vote wisely.


theophilus@ilevbare
blog: http://ilevbare.com
twitter: @tilevbare

Nigeria is home to some of the largest churches, fastest growing denominations and some of the wealthiest pastorpreneurs the world over. No surprise we’re considered the most religious people on earth. This tag, like our crude oil, is fast becoming our bane as a Nation. Opulence of founders of these churches achieved through compulsory and somewhat forceful tithing, seed sowing and constantly skinning of their flock and taking its milk. Properity preachers they’ve become, relegating salvation and righteous christian living to the backburner. No surprise that our thieving politicians have found a safe haven in churches where they share stolen loot with pastorpreneurs in return for fervent prayers to turn away the prying eyes of relevant anti-corruption agencies. So much dust has been raised in the past when stolen funds become seeds in God’s house without ascertaining how it is acquired, our pastorpreneurs , just don’t care!

The Pastorpreneur is part CEO and part pastor and they are considered Christian businessmen. It is a concept that combines business practices, like that of an enterpreneur, with religion. An enterpreneur unites all means of production to get products for Profiteering, constantly shifting economic resources out of an area of lower and into another of higher productivity and greater yield. So have the Pastors of megachurches turned.

They use and workers of the church as a means to attain their unholy ambition, while their wives and children are made to function in strategic church position to ensure seeds sown are properly remitted, constantly changing their ministerial headquarter from one megacity to another to gain more affluent .

Today, the work of the ministry has been turned into a money spinning venture. Prosperity preachers who never fail to emphasise tithing at every opportunity. They tell you if you want to be blessed beyond measure give beyond one-tenth of your earning, some even ask you to sow your lifes! Unsuspecting empty their pockets and when in dire need of a miracle their bank , almost going abegging thereafter, while the already super rich pastorpreneur lives like a royalty. The sensibilities of the average Nigerian churchgoer have almost been washed away by the antics of these so called-pastors. They inordinately compete among themselves; who has got the biggest megachurch auditorium. They move around in siren blarring elaborate motorcade, splashing thousands of dollars on posh cars, purchase, maintenance and cabin crew of private jet(s), multi-million naira investment across all major sectors of the economy, typical of accomplished enterpreneurs.

Though seldom, Politicians when in church, are ushered to the front row, given all sorts of titles and mundane recognition, rolling out drums as they step out for thanksgiving, one begins to wonder if it is a political rally.

It is unscriptural and sad that sow seeds into Mega church projects like elite secondary schools and universities which on completion eighty percent of thesame who sowed cannot afford to pay tuition of such schools in this or another lifetime! How they’ve been so blind folded and tricked overtime remains a mystery to close observers.

Scripture succintly noted that Believers of today were first called christians in Antioch because they possessed the very nature of Christ. The way and manner they went about their business was mirrored in the exemplary life of Jesus Christ, modesty, humility and righteousness were his watchword. Christ’s early ministry from birth to ascension was characterised by certain tenets which himself onished his disciples and followers alike to adhere. ‘Set your affections on things above’ the Bible says, but the very Men who are supposed to lead the flock of christ by example now milk them dry. Messages of Salvation, holiness, baptism by fire has now been left for the ‘small boys in the ministry’, those who have not attained mega status. Our supposed ambassadors of Christ have ed our thieving politicians or so it seems.

How many megachurches that are worth billions of naira have responsed to the victims of the recent flood disaster in 14 states? Churches don’t pay taxes, If they now make billions and make big time investments, how about social responsibilty? How do megachurches in Nigeria contribute to the development of their immediate community, touching the lifes of the needy? Isn’t that christlike? How about making investment in areas that will have a direct impact on church ? A friend muted the idea that three mega churches in Nigeria can come together and start an agricultural revolution by so doing creating employment, putting food on the table of the have-nots and giving the agricultural sector a short in the arm. Won’t christ up there be impressed?



Follow the writer for more engagement @tilevbare on twitter, he blogs politics at www.ilevbare.com

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the volcano as he is now fondly called in some quarters, had a quick succession of eruptions in the past few weeks as he made good use of the autonomy of the CBN to fire his salvo of economic policy razzmatazz, not sparing anyone from the legislature to the hardest hit, the civil servants, calling for 50 percent reduction of federal workers and other apparatus of government, as a means of reducing the cost of governance. His diagnosis was right but his prescription not just defective but insolent with a sprinkling of megalomania.
The CBN Boss, with an uncanny reputation for hitting up the polity, had in the past stirred the hornet’s nest with issues such as the contentious Islamic banking debate that polarized the Nation along religious lines, his aborted N5, 000 note introduction. He facilitated the donation of N100 million on behalf of the CBN to victims of the Boko Haram menace in his state of origin, Kano, attracting criticism from the media and the National Assembly, adamantly maintaining it was not the first time the CBN will be assisting victims of disasters. He had bitter run-ins with the National Assembly for calling for a reduction of their salaries and emoluments by at least 25 percent. The law makers had at a point muted a review of the CBN Act to strip the CBN governor of his autonomy.
Widespread reactions trailed his latest comments that Nigeria cannot make any meaningful progress, economic growth or develop infrastructure if it continued with a recurrent expenditure of 70 per cent. He was pummeled from all sides. The organized Labour and the NLC described the ‘loquacious’ CBN governor as a ‘hollow economist’ and one whose policy proposal is anti-people and ruinous to the Nigerian economy. The Labour therefore called for his immediate sack. His familiar foes, the law makers were not left out in pouring vitriolic attack, describing him as an ‘economist of turbulence’. A deluge of opinion from Nigerians ed the discourse that ensued.
Discarding Sanusi’s recommendation in total would be throwing the baby away with the bath water, certain aspects of Sanusi’s recommendation need be given a serious thought. Truly the executive and other apparatus of government must reduce its overhead cost by even more than 50 percent, the profligacy in government must stop, though Sanusi failed to add this. Nigerians had almost forgotten that Jonathan’s inauguration ceremony alone gulped about 5billion. Investigations revealed that the President and his entourage have spent not less than N3.35bn on foreign trips since 2010. Nigeria, a country without a Nigeria carrier spends an estimated N9.08bn annually on the Presidential Air Fleet of 10 aircrafts which is the third largest fleet, in queue behind commercial airlines with Arik Air the largest in the country with 23 aircrafts. How about the billions allocated for ‘refreshment’ in the Presidential Villa? The recent N2bn budget for the construction of the Vice-President’s official residence and another N2.2bn for a banquet hall for the President are landmark achievements of a government renowned for its culture of profligacy. This legacy of waste, impunity and fleecing of our commonwealth by past and present istration at all levels of government is what the CBN governor should be talking about. There is also the monster of corruption that needs to be tackled headlong. Indeed the private sector should be engaged to handle industrialisation and manage government owned businesses, the local governments and civil service should as a matter of urgency be repositioned for better service delivery. Inasmuch as the CBN governor’s submission was correct, in some areas, his implementation strategy is defective.
The dust of Sanusi’s latest controversy had not settled when news broke of the theft at the mint! Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC, is currently embroided in the mysterious disappearance of N2.1 Billion in N1000 denominations from the watch of its officials. Though there are conflicting figures of the missing sum but it is inconsequential, a theft of N20 at the mint, a place meant to be secured and immune to theft, should be considered a serious dent on the image of Nigeria, an all new level of fleece now extended to the stealing of newly minted notes.
The CBN governor as the head of the company board, scurried to a meeting with the board of the Mint company to investigate the magical disappearance of such colossal sum. The outcome so far has been the order to proceed on leave with immediate effect handed to the chief executive and the head of security of the NSPMC.
Contrary to reports of absence of Close Circuit Television Cameras known as CCTV at the NSPMC, investigation revealed the in-house istration of security of the premises and products is detailed, strict and computerised. Both physical and Materials’ security of the premises is ensured through the use of the most up-to-date electronic surveillance equipment, ed by adequate and well-trained security staff. Attributing the ease with which the funds developed wings to the absence of CCTV is a ploy to cover up the circumstances and personnel behind the brazen robbery.
The resurgence of sleaze in a sensitive place where banknotes are minted with top-notch security gadgets, is unimaginable, condemnable in strong and a mystery that must be unravelled. Regrettably, it is coming at a time when government officials are still protesting the Transparency International corruption index of the county. Nigerians hope it is not swept under the carpet again as the appropriate authorities must do more than the usual response of invitation for questioning by the House of Representatives, Police and the EFCC.
The Minister of state for Power, Hajiya Zainab Kuchi was quoted as saying evil spirits were preventing Nigeria from achieving sustainable electricity, she also recommended exorcism – “We must resolve to tly exorcise the evil spirit behind this darkness”. It became obvious other sectors needed exorcism as well. The disappearance without trace of a sum that would have needed three bullion vans to move presents a quintessential scenario where evil spirits are at work. The earlier we collectively start to exorcize these powers that be the better.
Nigerians will not forget in a hurry how Mallam Sanusi teamed up with the duo of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke to remove fuel subsidy, partially, in January 2012. The National Assembly through its findings discovered that whereas N245 billion was appropriated in 2011 for fuel subsidy, the Central Bank illegally paid out N2.3 trillion to the NNPC and other fuel importers on the recommendation of the Federal Ministries of Finance and Petroleum Resources. The CBN at a time paid about N20bn ($133m) for a piece of land, originally owned by a government agency, NITEL, to build “a world class conference centre”. It would have been expected that in line with his recommendations, the workforce of the CBN should have been pruned down from 5,022 but instead within three years of his assumption in office the CBN employed about 1,000 people. It is also public knowledge that last year the CBN spent N300 billion, no where close to N150billion of the National Assembly. In the light of the misdeeds of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, his call for the sack of civil servants as a way of improving the economy and the recent theft at the mint, he must realize that the light that shines farthest must first shine brightest at its base.



I can be engaged on twitter @tilevbare
Political Blog: www.ilevbare.com

I was up last night feeling a bit unwell (honestly I don’t really know what might be wrong) but in the deep of my chills and thoughts, I received a tweet from Theophilus Ilevbare (@tilevbare on twitter). The content was perhaps the most objective and well-argued article I have read in a long time. As often, I had attempted to reply to the article but I felt, its content contents would better serve the entire Nigeria, at least as a debate subject, on a topic to balance between morality and law. I will attempt to keep my views here limited and non-conclusive (in other words very short) to allow for other people’s views and opinions.



The article in question: Oshiomhole vs Airhiavbere: A Tale of Certificate Forgery (pls read here: http://ilevbare.com/?p=1808# )x-rayed the Adams Oshiomhole’s certificate brouhaha that is being currently petitioned Chris Airhiavbere, the first runner up of the July 14th Edo State’s guber race. For one, the election was accredited as being one of the freest and fairest in the state and I couldn’t agree less. The truth the election sent to all Nigerians was the fact that elections CAN actually represent the wishes of the people. Increasingly, as exampled by Imo and Ondo States, elections have started to wear a more human face and have started to represent the fact that integrity and service are rewarded by a popular mandate to represent and pilot the affairs of the people.



Theophilus was able to present a very balanced view by actually naming the errors in Oshiomhole’s educational qualification pointing out actual discrepancies and drawing some of the judiciary’s decisions, which in total, gives Chris Airhiavbere, the verve; an actual course of action upon which he could seek legal remedy. My only fault however, would be in his conclusions, which ended in committing the Fallacy of Appeal to Pity. I do not begrudge this conclusion as his basis for this conclusion really shows some merit, at least from a morality perspective. Here is the reason I will choose to disagree with his conclusion.



The entire Nigeria has risen to condemn and call for the stamping out of corruption in our society. Much as we may not always agree on how, its benefits cannot be downplayed no matter how insensitive one might decide to be. It is this same premise that has formed one of the fiercest criticisms on President Goodluck Jonathan’s istration apart from being sluggish to rise to several challenges. Sadly, corruption comes in several other forms and our personal affection cannot stand as a justification for them. Thus without running the risk of making a sub-judicial statement, I argue that perjury, when proven, is as corrupt as taking bribes and removing from the public till. This is so true because no matter how well liked a man might be, taking public office under false pretense is tantamount to robbing the people of their mandate to have offered the same leadership opportunity to a more honest candidate. (and in this case, let it not be mistaken that I am taking sides with Chris Airhiavbere …I am not!)



The provisions of the law, despite our affections and loyalties, are fixed. Since we run a secular state, not a religions one, the views of morality CANNOT be used to balance the law, or serve as some form of poetic justice in producing sound argument and determining the right to govern Edo State, as in this case. The error in Oshiomhole’s case thus, cannot be dismissed on the mere fact that he has been governing well or that he is liked by Edo people. Much as his leadership has impacted positively on the lives of the people, the law places him at a handicap if it is indeed established that he forged his certificates.



I am not sure if I should mention this but in the power game where opponents can get as petty as scrutinizing every aspect of one’s life, I find it inexplicable that Adams having earned a Diploma from Ruskin College, Oxford which meets the minimum requirement to stand elections and even allows for special consideration in its ission process, thus not requiring any doctored credentials, to have continued to present such flawed papers (which by the way, does not enhance his candidature) thus giving room to the possibility that Edo may yet lose one of the best governors it has ever had to legal technicalities. It really baffles me! (And I still see that action as one of Oshiomhole’s biggest gaffes).



The most worrisome of the Theophilus’ argument was the attempt to judge Lucky Igbinedion, Oseremen Osunbor and Goodluck Jonathan’s performance on their academic qualification. I will beg to differ on this for one reason: our educational qualification has little contribution towards making us rise to leadership challenges and to take proper actions as may be required of a leader. Many similarly educated Nigerians have also excelled in leadership just as much as the uneducated/semi-educated ones have. Thus his parallels in Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Michael Faraday and co., are mostly mistimed in the context. Most of the great world leaders that we celebrate today hold at least a doctorate degree and they have excelled. The problem in our case has been more of sincerity of purpose and political will than of educational qualifications.



If perjury is actually established, then Adams Oshiomhole may have his election nullified, which, as heartbreaking as it might seem, will be the right course of action. Irrespective of the growth under Edo State and his popular mandate, Edo could lose a gem on of this ime. In this line of thinking, let us Lance Armstrong, Ben Johnson and Marion Jones. These athletes brought so much honour and glory to their country and could have been shielded for their immense contribution yet, when it was established they were guilty of doping, their entire nation rose against them and ed that their title be stripped even if it was going to stand as a shame to them. The argument was that integrity and honour can only be savoured in truth and fairness. Edo people should also toe this line, if need be.



In closing, I have no doubt in my mind that should PDP win this tussle, Oshiomhole would have effectively become the first governor to be instated by the judiciary and removed by it. And in his tenure, he really set a truly working transformation agenda in motion that even the blind attests to in the history of Edo State. I personally will feel it as a big blow (because I managed to visit Benin under Igbinedion-Osunbor and Oshiomhole and the difference was too glaring) and would wish that the law would at least have made a reservation for emotions and morality but sadly to the contrary. Oshiomhole had confidence in the judiciary to have offered him remedy when he felt injured, he should return the same favour now that he might be on the wrong side of the law.





Theophilus Ilevbare Blogs politics at www.ilevbare.com

You may contribute to this debate by following Theophilus Ilevbare (@tilevbare) and Obinna (@TheArchcardinal). Please let us hear your thoughts.

The resounding victory the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole recorded over the combined cult of fixers, godfathers and godsons who for ten harrowing years withheld the dividend of democracy from the Edo people for the grand satiation of their ancient greed and rapacious tendencies have left a bitter pill in the mouth of the PDP big wings as they watched retired Major General Charles Airhiavbere’s high hopes for the July 14, 2012 elections crumble like a pack of cards when he failed to win in his polling unit where he voted, losing by a landslide across the 18 local government areas of the state, to proof that when the electorate are allowed to make the best possible choice on who governs, Nigerians and indeed the Edo people, can make a difference with democracy.

In his first tenure in 2008, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on assumption of office, after a prolong court battle to reclaim his stolen mandate from Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, he was in a hurry to perform and demonstrated to Edo people that the change they crave is not impossible as the PDP made it seem. Across the State, schools were refurbished and built, portable water provided for areas without water for 25years due to rocky and low level of water table, road construction and reconstruction, the agricultural sector has been repositioned, internal revenue leapfrogged from a paltry 200million to about 2billion naira monthly. In the health sector, hospitals were built and renovated. For the first time in almost a decade, Edo was truly working as it became a massive construction site. His unprecedented achievements earned him accolades and awards from within and outside the state. His impressive first term scorecard resulted in a clamour from royal fathers, chiefs, professionals, clerics, civil societies, organisations, groups and the Edo man on the streets to seek a second term in office. As the elections drew near, the Edo people were not just rooting for him but prepared to defend their votes to ensure that the Comrade Governor, as he is now fondly called, is given an opportunity to consolidate on the giant strides in his first term. The Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, CFR, while receiving ACN leaders to his palace prior to the July 2012 elections summed up the wishes of well-meaning people of Edo state this way “we are all praying for Oshiomhole to be re-elected in 2012. I and my chiefs are also hoping that he comes back and complete unfinished projects.” Despite the elections widely considered as free and fair, the PDP went ahead to contest the outcome of the poll at the State Election Petition Tribunal. After consultation with the leadership of the party, within and outside the state they made a U-turn and withdrew their petition barely three days after it was filed. The state chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih in a press statement titled Let God Be The Judge remarked ‘we have resolved not to file election charges at the tribunal in the interest of the state’. However, they still maintained that the results where manipulated to favour the incumbent. Apparently the PDP weighed its options and decided not to proceed with its case, thinking it would turn out to be an exercise in futility. General Airhiavbere (rtd) would not have any of this as he proceeded to file an application challenging Oshiomhole’s re-election on the basis of certificate forgery and perjury. He alleged that the elementary school Oshiomhole claimed to have attended was not in existence at that time, he also tendered fake certificate on oath to INEC from Blessed Martins Modern Secondary School from which he dropped out, going by constitution provision does not qualify him to contest the election. Against this background, General Charles Airhiavbere told the Tribunal that all certificates presented to INEC by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to contest the July 2012 election were mere documents.

A closer look at Governor Oshiomhole’s credentials showed that though he claimed to have attended Iyamoh Primary School, Iyamoh, in the then Midwest state from 1957-1962, his claim is however, contrary to investigation at the Edo State Ministry of Education which revealed that Iyamoh Primary School was founded in 1963, a year after the governor said he graduated from it. His name is said not to be in the Class nor among the graduated class of the Blessed Martins Secondary Modern School he claimed to have graduated from in 1965. If he was born in 1953 and graduated from a secondary school in 1965, as declared on oath, could it be correct that he complete secondary school at the age of 12? Curiously, the name on Oshiomhole’s primary and secondary school certificates simply bore Adams Aliu, and his Ahmadu Bello University Adult Education certificate submitted to INEC, bore Adams O. Aliyu, while subsequent certificates bore his current name Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. This disconnect in his names were made evident when the comrade governor in a handwritten affidavit he personally deposed to INEC stated that he had no previous names other than Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. The discrepancy in Oshiomhole’s stated dates, names and schools belie the veracity of his claim and may be considered as perjury on oath. The PDP’s candidate argue that in line with the provisions of the constitution, he was not eligible to stand as a candidate in the election. After Oshiomhole’s claim to secondary education, he obtained an adult education certificate from Ahmadu Bello University before proceeding to Ruskin College, Oxford, an educational institution that specializes in providing education opportunities for adults with few or no formal qualifications, where he obtained a diploma in Economics and Industrial Relations. He is an Alumnus of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

The 1999 constitution stipulates, “a person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if

(a) He is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;

(b) He has attained the age of thirty-five years;

(c) He is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and

(d) He has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”

Sub section (d) above is the relevant section Airhiavbere is holding unto, asking the election tribunal to quash Oshiomhole’s election.

Pertinent to note, on Sept. 27, Justice Suleman Ambrusa of the election petition tribunal , struck out several paragraphs of the General Airhiavbere’s petition, on the basis that it was a pre-election issue, which only the regular court had jurisdiction to handle. Consequently, on Arhiavbere’s appeal, the court of appeal ruled in his favour that the tribunal erred in law to have disqualified itself from entertaining the reliefs that bothered on Oshiomhole’s educational qualification to contest the governorship election and therefore restored its pleadings and ordered that the Acting President of the Court of Appeal should re-constituted a new tribunal to revisit the petition filed by the retired Major General.

There has been a show of public sympathy towards Governor Oshiomhole’s travails at the tribunal, many consider Airhiavbere’s petition as a desperate attempt to clinch power at Osadebey Avenue. A more objective angle to the tribunal proceedings can be a simple clarification of the Nigerian constitution as it applies to qualifications when running for public office. Its not unusual in Nigeria to have cases of certificate forgery post election. As it is with other court cases, evidence is key and certificate forgery is a very difficult one to prove. Senator Yisa Braimoh, had his suit of certificate forgery against Senator Domingo Obende representing Edo North Senatorial district dismissed by a Federal High Court in Abuja. Similarly, Benue State Governor, Mr Gabriel Suswan won a case of educational qualification instituted against him at the Federal High Court Abuja by a Chieftain of the PDP, Mr Terver kakih. On the flipside, Former Speaker of Federal House of Representative, Alhaji Salisu Buhari was disgraced out of office for awarding himself a fake certificate he claimed to have obtained from the University of Toronto. Today, there abound numerous cases of certificate forgery in the country. Issues of certificate forgery is not uncommon in other political climes. President Barack Obama, during the run-up to his re-election into the White House had to proof his place of birth was Hawaii by publishing his original birth certificate to effectively silence his critics.

What has certificate got to do with performance in Public Office? Past Governors, Lucky Igbinedion and Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor with degrees had nothing to show for the combined ten years they were in office. We have a President Jonathan who makes a mockery of the Ph.D degree with poor grasp of National issues, his government’s profligacy and lack of will power to fight corruption. History reminds us of great men, no fault of theirs that they had little or no formal education, but aspired to become authority in various fields. The likes of Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, William Shakespeare, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Michael Faraday and many others. The emphasis placed on certificates and formal education in this part of the world is another reason numerous cases of certificate forgery are periodically unraveled in the country. If charisma, leadership skills, political sagacity and such like are yardsticks for public office holders, then Governor Oshiomhole is light-years ahead of his contemporaries. Oshiomhole’s remark about General Airhiavbere sums it up ‘Ironically, the guy, who is saying that I did not go to school does not know the difference between UN and the World Bank. He does not know the difference between European Union and IMF’.

Undeniably, Governor Oshiomhole has lifted Edo State from the doldrum and inept leadership of the heisty hands of former PDP Governors, putting the state on the path to economic recovery and sustainable development. The election petition tribunal sitting is a distraction, though Oshiomhole has tried to brave the odds, sources close to the governor say he has been shaken by the discovery of discrepancies in his academic qualification. Earlier, Oshiomhole in his response to the petition filed against him at the tribunal said he considered it frivolous. These allegations have gathered momentum and now seem capable of truncating his giant strides and unwavering commitment to the upliftment of Edo state and its people.

The big questions remain; can Governor Adams Oshiomhole prove his certificates? Can he weather the storm?

Only time will tell.

God Bless Edo State, God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.



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